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Sadbhawna Today

Sadbhawna Today

Friday, August 20, 2010

Hospitals report high dengue cases, civic body says otherwise

Despite the civic body's claims of doing everything to curb the spread of dengue, the mosquito-borne disease is fast spreading in the capital. Delhi Sunday reported 69 new cases of dengue, taking the total number of people infected by the mosquito-borne disease to 434 this year, a whopping increase in comparison to the corresponding period last year. However, figures from the city's private hospitals show a wide gap between the official count and the actual number of dengue patients.

According to statistics released by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, the number of cases till this time in 2009 was only three. The figure was 54, 12 and 37 in the same periods in previous years -- 2008, 2007 and 2006.

The civic body has said there were one confirmed and three suspected dengue deaths this season though private hospitals are giving a much higher figure.

According to MCD on Saturday, there were 36 new cases which the highest -- 11 -- have been reported from MCD Central Zone, followed by four in Shahdara (North) Zone.

Among the total 384 cases till Saturday, 272 have been reported from MCD areas, 48 from NDMC areas and the rest were from other parts of the city outstation cases. MCD Central Zone reported the highest of 75 cases closely followed by South Zone with 74.

The MCD also released the names and addresses of the 26 new patients which show that there were five fresh cases from Jamia Nagar-Okhla, one of the worst-hit localities. Cases were also reported from Bhajanpura, Shakarpur, Rohini, Tilak Nagar, New Friends Colony and Wazirabad.

In view of increasing cases of dengue being reported from Jamia Nagar, the Delhi government has intensified its drive against the disease in the area. Local MCD councillor claims there are 500 suspected dengue patients from the locality admitted in hospitals though MCD cites a much lower figure.

An inspection tour by Delhi Mayor Prithvi Raj Sawhney to Jamia Nagar on August 18 had to be aborted midway after angry residents protested against MCD.

Authorities are more worried about the spread of dengue as the city will host the Commonwealth Games in October, a month which generally sees high prevalence of the disease.

The civic body said it was trying its best to control the spread of the vector-borne disease and has challaned a large number of individuals and organisations for breeding of mosquitoes in their premises. It said notices were sent to 45,532 people for breeding and 6,125 of them were fined.

According to the MCD, in the previous years, the number of dengue cases and deaths were 1153 and 3 (2009), 1312 and 2 (2008), 548 and 1 (2007) and 3366 and 36 (2006).